NBL on FOX, will it really be LIVE?

 

Less than a month ago, the NBL and Australian basketball community rejoiced at news that the NBL had signed with Fox Sports.

 

I personally called it a ‘Landmark’ deal as it promised something the league has never had: EVERY GAME LIVE in HD.

 

Not SOME games LIVE.

 

Not some games NEAR LIVE, and others on delay.

 

EVERY. GAME. LIVE.

 

Those words were the catch-cry of the joined FOX SPORTS and NBL media onslaught, and those words were sweet music to the ears of this long maligned basketball die-hard.

 

That is what makes the latest observation sting just a little.

 

Ten days away from the season opener, and here are the times the NBL is scheduled for FOX SPORTS on FOXTEL:

Adelaide v New Zealand () Thu 8 Oct 7:00am – 8:30am Cairns v Illawarra () Fri 9 Oct 9:30am – 11:00am Townsville v Melbourne () Sat 10 Oct 9:00am – 10:30am Sydney v Cairns () Sun 11 Oct 7:30am – 9:00am Adelaide v Perth () Sun 11 Oct 9:00am – 10:30am Rnd 1 NZ v Townsville () Mon 12 Oct 9:00am – 10:30am Melbourne v Illawarra () Mon 12 Oct 10:30am – 12:00pm

Now, that has nothing to do with the boys getting up at ‘sparrows fart’ to play. That is simply not a timing consistent with the NBL schedule.

 

Someone best check the Oxford dictionary’s definition of LIVE in this context.

Pauline Hanson: Long time Canberra Cannons fan, and not the biggest fan of imports.

 

Is the FOX SPORTS deal already heading the way of the Ten/ONE deal? Or is this all a big misunderstanding, set to be cleared up well before tip off? ‘

 

Vigilant fans turn into vigilante fans when waiting for answers.

 

With some of the more traditionally Australian sports being played during the NBL’s first week, it is hard to find exactly where our league will slot in on FOX’s five sports channels.

 

One possibility is that the NBL could feature on the FSN (FOX SPORTS NEWS) channel. That sounds like the easy solution, but FSN is not in full HD.

 

Remember the catch-cry? EVERY GAME LIVE in HD.

 

FOX SPORTS might just be having trouble with the “EVERY GAME” part.

 

And the “LIVE” part.

 

And the little “HD” bit there.

 

Fans will be hoping that the promise is reflected by an update to the schedule, and that it is all a minor glitch, and we can all get together and be friends.

 

LIVE NBL – now THAT’S what friends are for!